The Mulberry Tree:Difficult For The Reapers

"Then He said to the disciples, 'It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to you saying, '''I repent,''' you shall forgive him.' " And the apostles said to the Lord, 'Increase our faith.' So the Lord said, 'If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you." (Luke 17:1-6)

The mulberry tree is slow to produce fruit, taking ten years to mature to that point. When it does produce fruit, it is laborious to harvest due to a short stem attaching to the branch. At any given time, the stem maintains both mature (dark) and immature (red, white) fruit, simultaneously. Amazingly, the Lord uses the mulberry tree, it's characteristics regarding fruit-bearing, to educate His disciples. (Read Luke's 16th chapter for yourselves and take heed.)

"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work."(Titus 1:16)

"Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, 'Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?' He answered and said to them, 'Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ “ (Mark 7:5-7)

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe---and tremble. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:19,20)

These three scriptures show that one may not disregard that God is, yet be immature.The roots within of our own desire for more apart from God's will must be removed. As we confess the Lord's words regarding the mulberry tree, the Holy Spirit will teach us how to be saved from it.